The meeting between President Jacob Zuma and “wanted war criminal“‚ Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir‚ “yet again illustrates that president Zuma has abandoned human rights as the light that guides our foreign policy”‚ the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Thursday.
“President Zuma’s decision to meet with Al-Bashir‚ and accept his invitation to visit Sudan‚ adds insult to the injury he has caused to our Constitution‚ and the principle of the separation of powers that underlies our democratic order‚” said Stevens Mokgalapa‚ DA shadow minister of international relations and cooperation.
“The Democratic Alliance condemns this meeting and the message it sends to the international community about our respect for international law and human rights.
“Al-Bashir is wanted for intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population that resulted in the death of an estimated 400‚000 fellow Africans in Darfur. The charges against him include murder‚ extermination‚ forcible transfer‚ rape‚ torture and genocide.
“President Zuma has also accepted an invitation from Al-Bashir to visit Sudan later this year‚ again reflecting that president Zuma does not believe in justice for grave human rights violations.”
Mokgalapa said that these events came only days after the African National Congress used their majority to block the DA’s motion to establish an ad hoc committee to investigate charges of impeachment against the president for his deliberate decision to allow the Sudanese president escape South African on June 15 in violation of domestic and international law.
In an earlier statement on Thursday‚ the Presidency said Zuma had met Al-Bashir in Beijing “to discuss strengthening relations between South Africa and Sudan”.
“South Africa and Sudan enjoy warm bilateral relations‚” the Presidency said‚ adding that 16 bilateral agreements had been concluded between the two countries to date.
“South Africa seeks to further strengthen cooperation with Sudan in the fields of agriculture‚ agro-processing‚ science and technology‚ energy‚ infrastructure development‚ mining and retail… Today‚ the two leaders recommitted themselves to elevating the bilateral Joint Co-operation Commission to a ministerial level.
“President Zuma accepted the invitation by president Al-Bashir to visit Sudan‚” the statement read.
Zuma shows disdain for human rights by meeting Al-Bashir: DA
The meeting between President Jacob Zuma and “wanted war criminal“‚ Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir‚ “yet again illustrates that president Zuma has abandoned human rights as the light that guides our foreign policy”‚ the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Thursday.
“President Zuma’s decision to meet with Al-Bashir‚ and accept his invitation to visit Sudan‚ adds insult to the injury he has caused to our Constitution‚ and the principle of the separation of powers that underlies our democratic order‚” said Stevens Mokgalapa‚ DA shadow minister of international relations and cooperation.
“The Democratic Alliance condemns this meeting and the message it sends to the international community about our respect for international law and human rights.
“Al-Bashir is wanted for intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population that resulted in the death of an estimated 400‚000 fellow Africans in Darfur. The charges against him include murder‚ extermination‚ forcible transfer‚ rape‚ torture and genocide.
“President Zuma has also accepted an invitation from Al-Bashir to visit Sudan later this year‚ again reflecting that president Zuma does not believe in justice for grave human rights violations.”
Mokgalapa said that these events came only days after the African National Congress used their majority to block the DA’s motion to establish an ad hoc committee to investigate charges of impeachment against the president for his deliberate decision to allow the Sudanese president escape South African on June 15 in violation of domestic and international law.
In an earlier statement on Thursday‚ the Presidency said Zuma had met Al-Bashir in Beijing “to discuss strengthening relations between South Africa and Sudan”.
“South Africa and Sudan enjoy warm bilateral relations‚” the Presidency said‚ adding that 16 bilateral agreements had been concluded between the two countries to date.
“South Africa seeks to further strengthen cooperation with Sudan in the fields of agriculture‚ agro-processing‚ science and technology‚ energy‚ infrastructure development‚ mining and retail… Today‚ the two leaders recommitted themselves to elevating the bilateral Joint Co-operation Commission to a ministerial level.
“President Zuma accepted the invitation by president Al-Bashir to visit Sudan‚” the statement read.
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